There were certainly enough hype sniping moments to make up for it though. You can do cool things like shooting grenades on enemy soldiers in order to make them explode. You can also shoot fuel tanks to make vehicles explode and assassinate enemy leaders to induce panic in the rest of the troops. However, this still causes the game to feel a little repetitive. Sniping is cool, but eventually the standard pattern—snipe targets, move to next area, and so on—just gets a little too much for an extended play session.

Aside from the single-player mode, there are co-op modes to take part in a well. Sniper Elite V2's take on Horde Mode is probably the most fun to be had in the game. You'll be tasked with defending against wave after wave of enemy soldiers, of course, but the focus on sniping and trap setting makes it almost feel like a tower defense. The game also offers competitive multiplayer, though this is only available on the PC version.

Sniper Elite V2 was a decent game, but I wouldn't call it a work of art. Its dedication to the nuances of sniping is interesting, but that's unfortunately all it has going for it. Unfortunately, a game that only does sniping well really feels like only half of a game. In fact, it feels like the designers spent more time designing the gruesome kill cam than the non-sniping portions of the game. If you absolutely love sniping in first-person shooters, then you might want to check this out. Similarly, if you get a kick out of Mortal Kombat's blood and gore, this game certainly delivers the same experience in a shooter format. However, there are simply better shooters on the market right now, making Sniper Elite V2 little more than a diversion. It's a pure and well-crafted sniper simulation, but that just isn't enough to carry a full game.

ByAngelo M. D'Argenio
Contributing Writer
Date: May 2, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.7

GraphicsSniper Elite V2's graphics simply aren't up to this generation's standards. Textures are muddy, models are blocky, and it's just not nice to look at besides the X-Ray kill cam.

3.4

ControlWhile the controls themselves work well enough, the cover system and enemy A.I. make the game incredibly frustrating.

3.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice ActingThere isn't much to the sound design other than the sound effects of the battles you are in, and they work well enough.

3.0

Play ValueWhile the sniping itself is fun, the rest of the game doesn't measure up.

3.0

Overall Rating - FairNot an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Authenticity - The game features authentic World War II Berlin locations as well as vehicles, weapons such as the Springfield M1903, the Gewehr 43, and the Mosin-Nagant 1891/30, and uniforms modeled after the original versions.

Use The Environment - The slightest changes in the environment need to be taken into account to move into the perfect position, observe the quarry, take the shot and slip away unnoticed.

Sniper's Choice - Players will often find themselves facing a choice of the perfect shot that leaves them catastrophically exposed or a more difficult route that means they can continue their mission.